Canada Goose
Canada Goose (Banta canadensis) is one of the most iconic and recognized North American waterfowl species. There are 7 Canada goose subspecies, including the Atlantic, Interior, Giant, Lesser, Western, Dusky, and Vancouver Canada Goose, and differences are not easily distinguished because many geographical areas are integrade zones for one or more races. Until 2004, the 11 subspecies comprising Canada Geese and Cackling Geese were all classified as “Canada Goose subspecies.” Now, because of genetic differences, Canadas and their smaller forms, cacklers, are classified as stand-alone species. Typical Canada Geese characteristics include a black bill, legs/feet, head, neck, and tail feathers; a white patch on the cheek and breast; and an overall brown-gray body. In flight, a white horseshoe may be seen on the rump surrounded by black plumage. Sexes display similar plumage, and males are only slightly larger than the females. It has been observed that there is an east-west coloration cline: lighter subspecies are found in the East and darker subspecies are usually found in the West.
Available Hunts
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Alberta Canada Duck and Goose Hunting
Black Dog Outfitters' Alberta Canada Duck and goose hunting packages feature superior, all-inclusive waterfowl hunting experiences.
...read more- All Inclusive Package includes lodging and meals, professional guide services, scouting, firearms, ammo, airport and hunting transfers, bird processing.
- Specializes in exclusive corporate groups of 8-16
- Packages for 2 guests (combined into larger mixed groups)
- Hunting concessions total 15 MILLION ACRES!
- Mallards, pintails, Canada geese, cackler geese, snow geese, white-fronted geese.
Rate: ≤ $3,700/hunter packages -
Chesapeake Bay Maryland Duck Hunting
Guided Chesapeake Bay Duck Hunts in Maryland
...read moreThe Chesapeake Bay region Maryland duck hunting can be customized for guest preferences of sea duck hunts, diver duck hunts, puddle duck hunts and more.
- Traditional layout and long lines sets for divers and sea ducks
- Historic Chesapeake Bay area
- Over 10 years professional guide experience
- Large-group discounts available
- Fully customized intineraries per client objectives
- Excellent hotels, restaurants and area attractions
- Options forr sea ducks, diver ducks, puddle ducks, Canada geese, snow geese and Atlantic brant
Rate: $200-275 per hunter -
Delaware Duck Hunting
Delaware Sea Duck & Brant Hunting
...read moreDelaware sea duck and brant hunting package presents the perfect opportunity to collect scoters, Atlantic Brant, long-tailed ducks, and American black ducks. Low hunting pressure, dedicated guide and mobility ensure high-success hunts.
- Sea duck hunting from boat or layout
- Full-day hunting combo options
- Low-pressured hunting areas
- Plan B options during seaduck hunt weather-outs
- Hotel lodging, restaurant meals not included
- Nearby non-hunting activities
Rate: $200-225 Half-day -
Kansas Duck and Goose Hunting
Big Kansas Outdoors delivers high-energy, action packed Kansas duck and goose hunting in Central Kansas. It's the kind of waterfowl hunting for which Kansas has become famous.
...read more- Dry-field and wetland hunts for ducks and geese
- Waterfowl-only and waterfowl-upland combos
- Value-priced packages include lodging and meals
- Full-time scouts find the active feeds, full-time guides make it happen
- Within a day’s drive for most of the US
- As featured on The Grind and Heartland Waterfowl
Rate: $1,300 (3-day waterfowl-only) -
Manitoba Canada Duck and Goose Hunting
Birdtail Waterfowl has perfected the Manitoba Canada waterfowl hunting experience for ducks and geese. Highly organized, everything runs like clockwork.
...read more- Best total-package waterfowl hunt in Manitoba Canada. Period.
- Extremely large and productive hunting area, diverse habitats
- Mallards, pintails, Canada geese, cackling geese, snow geese, white-fronted geese, sandhill cranes–and unbelievably great diver hunts for those that choose
- Chef-prepared meals, private cottages, excellent attention to details
- Youth hunter discounts, non-hunting spouses welcomed
- September through early-November
Rate: $2,500-3225 -
Mississippi Duck Hunting – Tallahatchie Hunts
Mississippi duck hunting at its very best in fabled Tallahatchie County
...read moreSuperior combination of friendly, experienced guides, comfortable private lodging, and excellent Mississippi duck hunting on some of the most coveted duck hunting properties in Mississippi.
- Guided Mississippi duck hunting
- High-success rates, easy hunt access
- With or without lodging
- Huge southern breakfasts provided daily
- Afternoon hunting options deer, rabbits, quail
- Convenient to Memphis airport and non-hunting attractions
Rate: $350-500 -
New England Sea Duck Hunting
World renown for its eider hunting, New England waterfowling offers an incredible change of scenery and is an excellent place to check off lots of North America waterfowl species. RPM Outdoors specializes in making your hunt priorities a reality.
...read more- 17+ years experience for eiders, other sea ducks, divers, dabblers, mergansers, geese
- Best place in US to harvest prime American black ducks
- Customized hunt plans reflect hunter priorities, not a “one size fits all” type 1/2-day hunt
- Includes hotel accommodations, full-day hunting, continental breakfasts, made-to-order lunches
- Recognized as foremost among US waterfowl collectors and taxidermists
- Nearby non-hunting spouse activities abound
Rate: $1,950 for 3-day inclusive package -
North Dakota Pheasant Hunting Combo
Guided North Dakota Pheasant Hunting package offers options for pheasant hunting only, or a true pheasant hunting plus waterfowl hunting combo. Ringneck Resort represents a long-standing reputable outfitter program and highly experienced guide-staff..
...read more- North Dakota pheasant hunting combo to include waterfowl hunting
- Pheasant hunting-only packages available (wild, preserve or both)
- Inclusive packages includes signature meals, well-stocked bar
- Spacious, well-appointed lodge sleeps 48 guests. Ensuite rooms.
- Solo hunters welcome. No party-size too big or too small
- Bring your own dogs or hunt over Ringneck Resort’s excellent dog power
Rate: $2,750 (3-day Combo) -
North Dakota Waterfowl Hunt
Dirty Bird Outfitters delivers the best guided North Dakota waterfowl hunting experiences. North Dakota duck hunts, North Dakota goose hunts and North Dakota swan hunts are their specialties.
...read more- Guided North Dakota duck hunting combo packages
- High-success North Dakota Swan Hunts (must draw tag)
- Early- and late-season North Dakota Canada Goose Hunting
- Packages include meals and lodging
- NEW Home-away-from-home lodge (constructed 2021)
- Small, highly experienced and professional staff
- Mallards, wigeons, pintails, cackler geese, Canada geese, white-fronted geese, light geese, tundra swans
- Waterfowl hunting opportunities August through mid-December
Rate: $400-650 daily -
Ontario Canada Duck and Goose Hunt
Canada geese and mallard persist for entire season where massive grain agricultural landscape sandwiches between St, Lawrence and Ottawa rivers.
...read moreSick about drastic honker and mallard bag limit reductions in Atlantic Flyway? An affordable cure awaits just a short drive away in Ontario!
- Small, highly experienced staff caters exclusively to client groups of 4-8 hunters
- Plentiful Canada geese, mallards, divers and generous Canadian limits.
- Value-oriented package includes chef-prepared meals, excellent lodging, licenses, bird processing
- Short drives to hunt areas (only about 15 minutes away)
- All hunts conducted from A-frame blinds for your shooting convenience
Rate: $1,700 (3-day inclusive package)
Canada goose reintroductions have created resident goose populations that, along with migrators, can now be found thriving in suburban and urban areas. Breeding areas are found in all Canadian provinces and all continental United State, with highest densities in Canada. During the breeding season their diet consists of grasses and sedges. When migrating, they will fly in the “V” formation with the more experienced geese leading at the front of the flock. Canada Geese are skilled at removing corn kernels from old corn cobs. They frequent agricultural fields and prefer to forage on land. Their wintering grounds are similar to their breeding grounds as they are found from southern Canada down to northern Mexico. Subspecies generalized below:
Atlantic Canada Goose (B. c. canadensis) is the nominate race; most plentiful of the subspecies found on the east coast and prefer to breed near bog- or fen-like habitats. Bill length 48-65 mm. Breeds southeast Canada and northeast US, wintering primarily Atlantic Coast.
Interior Canada Goose (B. c. interior) may be easily confused with the Atlantic Canada Goose, but has more distinct barring on its grayish underbelly. Bill length 43-64 mm. Breeds east and south of Hudson Bay wintering historically southeastern US but now believed primarily to overwinter much further north.
Giant Canada Goose (B. c. maximus) is largest race, has the longest neck and is also one of the lightest in overall plumage color. This is the least vocal of all subspecies. Bill length 60-68 mm. Chiefly a resident of Great Plains region but has become proliferate through the US due to reintroduction programs.
Lesser Canada Goose (B. c. parvipes) displays the characteristic white cheek patches; however, they will often extend under the head. Bill length 36-49 mm. Breeds Arctic Canada west to eastern Alaska, wintering interior California and also Gulf Coast and into Mexico.
Western Canada Goose (B. c. moffitti) shares the same light plumage. An alternate name for this species is the Great Basin Canada Goose. Bill length 36-49 mm. Breeds Great Basin region, wintering western US.
Vancouver Canada Goose (B. c. fulva) uniformly dark rufous. Bill length 45-60 mm. Resident British Columbia to southern Alaska, wintering as far south as Northern California.
Dusky Canada Goose (B. c. occidentalis) is darker and smaller than Vancouver. Bill length 41-48 mm. Breeds coastal southern Alaska, watering Vancouver and Oregon; and is protected throughout most of its wintering range due to nesting ground-related population reductions.
For reasons previously noted, differentiating Canada goose subspecies should be predicated on more than general descriptions. Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America (Belrose 1980) depicts breeding grounds, migrational corridors and wintering areas, and also provides additional biometric data such as tarsus lengths. This information is helpful in tackling Canada Goose subspecies identification.
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